Instagram and Facebook Users in Europe to Get Option of Sharing Less Data *⇥ digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu *

The European Commission:

The European Commission acknowledges Meta’s undertaking to offer users in the EU an alternative choice of Facebook and Instagram services that would show them less personalised ads, to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This is the first time that such a choice is offered on Meta’s social networks. Meta will give users the effective choice between: consenting to share all their data and seeing fully personalised advertising, and opting to share less personal data for an experience with more limited personalised advertising. Meta will present these new options to users in the EU in January 2026.

Good. Meta should have the option to charge users if it wants to compensate for a revenue difference between surveillance-powered ads and less creepy ads, but users should not be forced to choose between paying or sacrificing their right to privacy. If Meta’s business cannot be sufficiently profitable without conning a bunch of people, it should have a different business model.

Adam Satariano, New York Times:

Meta downplayed Monday’s announcement, saying it was making changes to the wording, design and transparency of existing policy.

“We acknowledge the European Commission’s statement,” the company said in a statement, adding that “personalized ads are vital for Europe’s economy.”

Meta might be trying to save face, but a year ago, it was so distraught as to file a legal complaint to retain its “pay or consent” model.